Separation of minerals by flotation



Patented Apr. 21, 1931 UNITED STATES, PATENT OFFICE FREDERICK G. MOSES,OF NEW YORK, RAYMOND W. HESS, OF BUFFALO, AND ROBERT L. PERKINS, OF EASTAURORA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS TO THE BARRETT COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY SEPARATION OF MINERALS BY FLOTATION mDrawing. Application filed May 20,

This invention relates to the separation of minerals and theconcentration of ores by flotation processes, and is particularlydirected to such separation and concentration carried out with theutilization of certain organic sulfur bodies or compounds as flotationor mineral collecting agents.

According to the present invention, improved results' can be obtained inthe separation of minerals and the concentration of ores by carrying outthe flotation operation with the addition to the ore or mineral pulp ofa mercaptothiodiazole compound, partic-' ularly a mercapto-l :2-thiodiazoie compound characterized by the formula wherein R denotes amonovalent hydrocarbonradical which may contain substituents, andparticularly denotes an aryl radical, more especially of the benzeneseries. The hydrogen atom of the mercapto group, i. e., the group,SH,may be replaced by a metal to form a metal salt. It will be understoodthat sa-id metallic salts are comprehended Within the present invention.The flotation agents of the present invention may be prepared by methodsdescribed in the chemical literature.

operation. For example, it may be introduced in the free state or as asalt into the mill in which the ore is being ground, or it may bedissolYed, suspended or dispersed in any suitable solvent or, dispersingagent as, for example, in one or more of the usual flotation oils or oilmixtures, or in any suitable organic solvent or medium, or in water orin an alkali or alkaline reagent, and the resulting mixture incorporatedwith the ore or mineral pulp. While the agents of the present inventionshow marked action as flotation or mineral collecting a ents'in oreconcentration, they in genera exhibit insuificient 1927. Serial No.193,057.

be carried out in any suitable apparatus, for

example, those of the pneumatic type such as the Callow cell, or thosewhere the air is incorporated with the pulp by agitation such as the Janney apparatus, or the like.

It is of advantage in some cases, as with certain copper ores, tosubject the ore pul to the action of an amount of alkali sufliclent togive it an alkaline reaction before subjecting it to flotation with theaid of the flotation agents of the present invention. The alkali may becaustic alkali such as caustic soda, or an alkaline salt such as sodaash, or it may be calcium oxide or hydrate.

In the differential separation of various minerals, such as zinc blendefrom associated minerals, the presence of an alkali metal cyanide, or ofcopper sulfate or other salts, is sometimes advantageous.

The amount of flotation agent required to be used in the flotationrocess will vary, it depending partly on the character and compositionof theore, partly on the particular mercaptothiodiazole compoundemployed, and partly on other factors. In general, onesixth to one-halfpound of the flotation agent. per ton of'ore will be suflicient. Largeror smaller amounts of this, however, can be used.

Achanicalapparatus. tated for20 minutes 1 h o her Wecaimp to pass a LO-mesh screen. The ground was diluted with-sufficient water to -give ainixture icontainin about 16 percent solids and subjecto'd' to otationina 'Janney mehe mi turm a 'a during which time about 0108 parts of pineoil was introduced. 67.3

parts of concentrate assaying 8.521 percent .copper was'obtained'whichis*a recovery in .the concentrate pf 84.8 percent of the copper,

originally present in the heads. The tailings assayed 0.24 percentcopper.

The,present-invention isof moreor less;

general-application to the treatment of vam 'rious kinds ofmmeralsubstances, both naturaland. artificial, by flotation.

It will thus be noted that the present invention contemplates theutilization as flotation agents in the separation of minerals and theconcentration of ores of mercaptothiodiafzole compounds; that saidflotation agents ,may be' incorporated in or with the ore or .mineralpulp at any suitable timeor in any suitable manner; thatthey may be usedin the free' state or'as salts or in admixture with one another or insolution,-suspen'sion or dispersion any. suitablesolvent' or medium; andh'a't they: may. beuused in conjunction flotationagents or with frothingagents, or with both., I I J i It will be understood that the inventionis not limited to the useqof the particular agents or ingredientsmentioned in the example and that other agents, particularly otherflotation agents of the class specified, can be similarl used. i

with the following probablefonnula-z a tire wherein R denotes ahydrocarbon radical which may contain substituents, and subjecting theresulting mixture to a frotlrflotation operation.

3. In effecting the separation of minerals,

the process which comprises incorporating with the mineral pulp amercaptothiodliazole compound correspondin in the 1 free: state with thefollowing proba le formula:

where R signifies an aryl radical or group, and subjecting the resultingmixture to a froth flotation operation.

the process which comprises incorporating withthe mineral pulp amercaptothiodiazole compound corresponding in the freestate with theprobable formula;

wherein R denotesan aromatic hydrocarbon radical of the benzene serieswhich maycontain substituents, and subjecting the resulting mixture to afroth flotation operation.

"a. In effecting the separation of minerals,

til-Ineffecting the separation of minerals,

the process which comprises incorporating with "the mineral pulp3-phenyl-V5:-mercapto 1: 2 l-thiodiazole, and subjecting the resultingmixture to a froth flotation operation.

'6. In effecting the separation of minerals,-

the process which comprises incorporating with the mineral pulp amercaptothiodiazole which in thelfree state embodies within-itscomposition the following probable groupmg: i A.

' 'C-I-N\ L go-s4: v

and. subjecting the resulting mixture to a froth flotation operation.

7. In effecting the concentration of a copper. sulfide ore, the processwhich comprises subjectingapulp of the ore to a froth flotationoperation in the presence of a mercaptothiodiazole.

8. In effecting the concentration of a copper sulfide ore, the processwhich comprises subjecting a pulp of the ore to a froth flotationoperation in the presence of a mercaptothiodiazole which in thefreestate embodies within its composition the following prob-- ablegrouping:

' "Essa 9. In effecting the concentration of a copper sulfide ore, theprocess which comprises "subjecting a pulp of the ore to a frothflotation operation in the presenceof a Inercaptothiodiazole having inthe free state the following probable formula:

'R-C-N\ o-sn I wherein R denotes an aryl group.

10. In effecting the concentration of a cop per sulfide ore, the processwhich comprises subjecting a. pulp of the ore to a froth flotationoperation in the presence of a meroaptothiodiazole having in the freestate the following probable formula:

In testimony whereof we affix our signatu-res.

FREDERICK G. MOSES. RAYMOND W. HESS.

ROBERT L. PERKINS.

